A community-led approach to transforming philanthropy

Traditional methods for addressing community challenges are increasingly ineffective as emerging societal needs demand more from philanthropy. With heightened expectations around equity and sustainability from both community members and governing boards, it’s time to rethink our strategies.

Many organizations equate effective stewardship with efficient fund distribution, yet complex social challenges call for bold innovation. Ironically, an unyielding focus on resource distribution can maintain the status quo, stifling the transformative change that communities need. The greatest risk may not lie in embracing innovation, but in continuing with the old ways.

Today’s philanthropic opportunity is to become a catalyst for place-based innovation—one that nurtures deep, localized impact through genuine collaboration within the grantee ecosystem. By applying Human-Centered Design principles, organizations can gain fresh insights into local needs and uncover systemic opportunities that transform communities from the ground up.

This interactive session will provide practical strategies for engaging the community members most affected by local issues and involving them directly in designing solutions. Participants will learn to view their communities through the eyes of those they serve, moving away from fragmented approaches toward cohesive, human-centered systems that drive real community impact.

Panelists from The George Foundation, Upstream Thinking, and Access Health will share first-hand experiences demonstrating how Community-Led Design transforms philanthropic services. They will discuss how this approach not only fosters cross-agency collaboration but also makes investments more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive.

Throughout the session, practical tools for place-based impact will be introduced, with interactive exercises allowing participants to apply these strategies to a hypothetical local challenge. Join us to explore how Community-Led Design can revolutionize philanthropy and create lasting change where it matters most.